Texas District Tests New Visitor Screening System

With the new program, visitors to the Smith Elementary School campus stand in front of a security camera, press a button and wait for an office attendant to respond.

By Jessica Davis

March 05, 2019

Frisco Independent School District is testing a new security system at one of its elementary schools to make it safer for students and office staff. The program will be implemented at all of its elementary campuses by the end of the summer.

With the new program, visitors to the Smith Elementary School campus stand in front of a security camera, press a button and wait for an office attendant to respond. The office staff member asks them to hold up their identification, verifies the reason for their visit, buzzes them into the reception area and issues them a visitor’s badge.

Principal Catherine Young said that before this system was implemented, there was no way to screen people before they entered the building.

"I feel more secure and safer knowing that the front office has that time to respond if we need to," Young said.

Frisco ISD emergency manager Jon Bodie said the entrance camera system and visitor protocol is another way the district is looking to enhance security on campuses.

"We feel like this is the next level of evolution. It allows us to provide another level of safety that we haven't been able to provide in some places," Bodie said.

The new system is one of a handful of new security upgrades, according to officials.

Thanks to voter approval of the 2018 bond program, the district has installed emergency lockdown technology on all of its campuses. There is also funding for bullet-resistant glass for classroom windows and sidelights, which will be installed at a date yet to be determined.